Counseling Programs at Seminary of the Southwest

Seminary of the Southwest blends professional counseling with spiritual integration to provide specialized graduate education for future mental health professionals. The Seminary’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MHC) program offers a 60-hour degree that gives students detailed instruction in professional counseling. Students who complete this program are well-prepared to pass the Texas State LPC qualifying exam and get a chance to blend counseling skills with spiritual, religious, and ethical values.

The Seminary’s counseling program has earned accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes. This makes it unique as the only institution in Central Texas that offers this specific degree with CACREP accreditation.

“Cultivating transformation through mutuality” sits at the heart of the program’s vision. The mission aims to “prepare counselors through a social justice oriented curriculum and a spiritually integrated foundation so that they can be builders of beloved community”. These principles shape every aspect of the program’s structure and philosophy.

The Seminary takes a comprehensive approach to education through its formation model. The curriculum helps stimulate growth in three key areas:

• Being (Disposition): Students develop self-awareness, openness, character, cultural empathy, and professionalism
• Knowing (Content): Students become skilled at professional counseling knowledge in various domains while understanding how culture, religion, and spirituality shape worldviews
• Doing (Skills): Students learn essential tasks of competent professional counselors while developing environmentally responsible personal and spiritual practices

On top of that, the Seminary provides a specialized Latinx Counseling Concentration if you have an interest in serving Latino/Hispanic communities. This concentration comes with two tracks: one develops Spanish language skills for working with first and second-generation Latinx clients, while another focuses on cultural competency for Latinx generations.

The MHC program runs under The Loise Henderson Wessendorff Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation, which the Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation has endowed. This center supports programs that help people improve their spiritual lives while using their gifts to serve God.

The Seminary of the Southwest believes every Christian has a unique vocation or calling. Your path might lead you to work inside or outside traditional church settings, and the Seminary will help you grow into a mature, confident, and knowledgeable Christian professional.

What counseling programs does XX offer?

Seminary of the Southwest’s counseling department has two main graduate programs that prepare students to become licensed professional counselors.

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MHC) is their flagship counseling program. This 60-hour CACREP-accredited degree helps students pass the Texas State LPC qualifying exam. The program blends professional counseling skills with spiritual, religious, and ethical values. Seminary of the Southwest stands out as the only institution in Central Texas that offers this CACREP-accredited degree, giving students a credential that employers value highly.

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Latinx Counseling Concentration provides specialized training to work with Latino/Hispanic communities. Students can choose between two tracks:

• Track One has Spanish language training to help counsel first and second-generation Latinx clients
• Track Two teaches cultural competency for all Latinx generations without Spanish language requirements

Students in both programs need to complete core spiritual integration courses (12 credit hours), pre-requisite counseling courses (36 credit hours), clinical practicum and internship (9 credit hours), and additional counseling courses (9 credit hours). They must also meet candidacy requirements such as student counseling, GPA standards, and advisor recommendations before graduating.

The Seminary used to offer a 66-hour Master of Arts in Counseling program that gave students graduate-level counseling instruction and ways to blend counseling theories with pastoral approaches.

The Seminary’s counseling programs focus on professional, spiritual, and ethical skills. Working adults can attend classes during evenings and weekends, and full-time students usually finish their degree in 2.5 to 3 years. Students learn about professional orientation, cultural diversity, human development, counseling theories, and spiritual integration during their studies.

Graduates can start their licensure process by completing the program, passing the National Counselor Examination, and finishing a post-graduate supervised internship of 3000 hours.

Internships/Practicum at SSW

Clinical experience is the substance of counseling education at Seminary of the Southwest. Students must complete 9 credit hours of clinical training. The training follows a sequence: Clinical Practicum, Clinical Internship I, and Clinical Internship II.

The Seminary’s mutually beneficial alliances give students exceptional real-life experience:

• Therapy Austin welcomes practicum and internship students with high-quality training and personal mentoring. Students who intern here work with a full caseload of adult clients and treat couples. They also take part in weekly supervision and clinical trainings.
• UT Episcopal Student Center lets student interns provide free counseling to college students. This collaborative effort has expanded the center’s reach from 25 to about 100 students in Texas weekly.

The Bishop Dena A. Harrison Fellows Program is a chance for graduates to grow. This program pairs the Episcopal Health Foundation with Seminary of the Southwest. MHC graduates can get a two-year paid internship at mental health facilities that serve communities in need. Fellows can complete their LPC-Associate hours at partner locations like Burke in East Texas or the Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network in Waco. They need to finish 3,000 hours in two years – split between 1,500 direct client contact hours and 1,500 counseling-related hours.

The MHC curriculum meets Texas requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credentials. Note that Seminary of the Southwest does not give the National Counselor Examination after graduation or help place students in post-graduate internships. Students should get current licensure requirements from the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.

What sets Seminary of the Southwest apart?

Seminary of the Southwest’s counseling programs stand out with several unique features. The program boasts accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), making it a rare find among Central Texas institutions. Students receive education that meets strict national standards through this accreditation.

The program offers something special by blending professional counseling skills with spiritual, religious, and ethical values. While its roots lie in Christian tradition, students from all faith backgrounds are welcome and learn to work with clients of different spiritual beliefs effectively.

“Cultivating transformation through mutuality” serves as the program’s guiding vision. The mission aims to “prepare counselors through a social justice oriented curriculum and a spiritually integrated foundation”. This philosophy runs deep through every aspect of the educational experience.

The program focuses on three key areas:

• Being (Disposition) – Developing self-awareness, openness, character, and cultural empathy
• Knowing (Content) – Mastering counseling knowledge while understanding the influence of culture, religion and spirituality
• Doing (Skills) – Performing essential counseling tasks while developing green practices

The Seminary has earned accreditations from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). It maintains active membership in several professional groups including the Council of Southwestern Theological Schools, American Theological Library Association, Texas Counseling Association, and Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling.

The Seminary’s commitment to excellence shows in its institutional effectiveness standards. These include ambitious goals: 50% graduation rates for MACMHC, 75% retention across all degrees, and 80% job placement for MACMHC graduates.

Next steps

Looking to join Seminary of the Southwest’s counseling programs? The application process is simple but detailed. You can submit applications until June 1. The school makes admission decisions as applications come in after faculty interviews. Students interested in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling should apply by May 31.

Here’s what you need to begin your application:

• A completed online application
• An undergraduate degree with at least a 2.5 GPA
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from your previous schools
• Two personal statements about your learning goals and career plans
• A $55 non-refundable application fee

After acceptance, you’ll have tasks to complete before and after New Student Orientation. Before orientation starts, you should accept your offer, confirm you’ll attend orientation, and resolve any financial aid or housing questions. After orientation, you need to return your signed MHC Handbook and Academic Code Acknowledgement Form. You’ll also need to verify your seminary email, sign up for classes, and handle tuition and fees.

The graduation requirements include 60 credits completed within six years. You must also complete student counseling for candidacy, pass the Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), keep your grades up, and clear all financial obligations to the seminary.